Paper-making machine.



' W. H. MILLSPAUGH.

PAPER MAKING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED 0053.7, 1909'.

Patented May 7, 1912.

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W. H. MILLSPAUGH.

PAPER MAKING MACHINE. V 'APPLIGATI'ON FILED 002m, 1909.

Patented May 7, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM H. MILLSPAUGH, 0F SANDUSKY, OHIO.

' PAPER-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1912 Application filed October 7, 1909. Serial No. 521,585.

To all 'wlzomz't may concern.

Be itknown that I,-W1LL1AM H. MILLS- PAUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sandusky, in the county of Erie and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Making Machines: and I do hereby declare the fol-- lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to paper-making machinery and is especially applicable to so-called F ourdrinier machines, and its object is to improve the operation and to increase the capacity of such machines and to improve the product'thereof, as well as to simplify the construction of such machines by enabling parts thereof now commonly and necessarily employed therein to be dispensed with.

The drying effect on a sheet of paper forming on the making-wire of a Fourdrinier machine results'not from atmospheric pressure upon the external portion of the sheet while passing over suction-boxes, as has been commonly supposed, but from the passing of air through the sheet. As heretofore practised, however, it has been practicable to remove by "acuum appliances only enough of the superabundant water from the wet web or sheet to permit a preliminary squeezing out of the water by the couch-rolls or baby-presses, leaving the web or sheet in a wet state. I have discovered by costly experiments that a much greater volume of air can effectively be drawn through the wet web'or sheet than has heretofore been supposed practical, with remarkable results in the drying of the web and invthe texture of the web or sheet so dried; it is essential however that the air be passed uniformly through all portions of the sheet.

On fast running Fourdrinier machines, as ordinarily constructed, whether equipped with flat suction-boxes or a revolving suction-roll. the wet web or sheet. is treated unequally because a certain proportion of the sheet goes by the suction-boxes without the proper amount of air having passed through same, and portions are unequally dried.

Reciprocating piston pumps are commonly employed in Fourdrinier machines, and such pumps cannot produce uniform suction or air current except by the use of very large vacuum-equalizing or receiving tanks in com cumbersome and open to many object-ions anld seldom if ever accomplish the desired re su t.

In carrying outmy invention, I employ a suction-roll in combination with a positive rotary vacuum pump capable of maintaining a substantially uniform vacuum in the vacuum-chamber or chambers of the suction roll while handling large volumes of water and air, and thereby draw heretofore supposedly impractical volumes of air uniformly through the wet web or sheet, preferably as it leaves the making-wire; and by subjecting the wet web or sheet to the action of such constant vacuum at the suction-roll I am able to practically accomplish by one the work of many parts heretofore required in Fourdrinier machines, and to increase the capacity of such machines by eliminating sources of breaks in the wet web and delivering the web or sheet to the presses and driers in a much drier condition than at present, thus greatly facilitating the drying and enabling the speed of the machineto be greatly increased, and also to producea -botter grade of paper of smoother finish, free from Wire marks and substantially free from felt marks: and when my ,invention is applied to such Fourdrinier machines such heretofore necessary parts are dispensed chine, while the latter will nevertheless-be nally do. I am also able to maintain sutlicient vacuum in the suction-roll to lock'the makin -wire firmly to the revolving shell or cylinder of the suction-roll and utilize the latter to drive the making wire.

large and uniform volumes of air through the wet paper web is that the wet web may be sufiiclently dried at the suction-roll 'to enable .it to be picked off the making-wire safely and more easily than would be possible in the ordinary methods of making paper with a top couch-roll. I Will'IlOW described my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which I W Figure \1 represents diagrammatically a portion of an ordinary Fourdrinier machine with my invention embodied therein. Fig.

with and may be removed from the ma An additional advantage of carrying such 2 is a view showing the rotary pump con-' iection with such pumps which are very suction-roll and a positive rotary air pump ca-pacitated by my invention to produce more and better paper than it could origi- 4 nection with the suction-roll, the rear end portion of the suction-roll being shown in longitudinal vertical section and the pump being shown in side, elevation. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the rotary pump. Fig. I} is a detail sectional View on line 4- of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a detail section on linev 55 of'Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the delivery. end of the wire with a smoothing or dandy roll used in cooperation with the suction-roll. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the use of a coloring appliance.

In the drawings 1 represents .the usual Fourdrinier making-wire which passes over a breast-roll 1" and over a suction-r0112 (lo- 1 cated inthe place of the usual lower couch roll) and also over an intermediate series of table rolls supporting the upper run of the making-wire'as usual in such machines; the lower run of the making-wire passing over suitable guiding and tensioning rolls as usual. The deckle' straps 3 running over pulleys 5 are arranged above the upper run of the making-wire as usual.

4: is the dandy roll; 5 is the receiving press felt running over suitable guide rolls 5* as shown to the first press rollsv6.

' 'The parts thusfar described, except the suction-roll, may be constructed and arranged substantially as in any ordinary- Fourdrinier machine; but at the point where I have the suction-roll 2 the Fourdrinier machines ordinarily have two couch rolls which receive and squeeze out the water from the wet paper web and pass it from the making-wire 1 to the press felt I remove the upper couch roll and its appurtenances and put the suction-roll 2 in the place of the lower couch roll, and extend themaking-wire 1 over this suction-roll 2,

which I utilize and employ, as hereinafter described, both for substantially drying the wet web before it is delivered to the felt, and for driving the making-wire; accomplishing this by the maintenance of such heavy uniform vacuum as to draw large volumes of air uniformly through the web or sheet as aforesaid.

Elimination of the top couch roll avoids one very serious objection to the Fourdrinier boards and jacket, allor a part of the fiat suction-boxes usually employed in Fourdrinier machines are or may be dispensed with. fhis reduces friction on the makingwire and prolongs the life thereof, and by reducing friction lessens the power required to operate the wet end of the machine. When my invention is applied to an ordinary Fourdrinier machine, I preferably discard all the fiat suction-boxes except that one (4) required to remove water for dandyroll purposes, or to hold the edge of heavy or slow sheets between the deckles and the suction-roll; but where a dandy-roll is not needed said suction-box 4 can be dispensed with by having the deckle straps extended down to the suction-roll, thus reducing wear and drag on the making-wire.

Referring to the suction-roll, which may be of any form capable of maintaining a vacuum on a portion of cylindrical surface, I prefer in view of the heavy vacuum maintained to employ a suction-roll having provision for maintaining its suction-box in air-tight contact with the inner surface of the revolving shell or cylinder, so as to efiectively utilize the vacuum, and for limiting the pressure of such contact to prevent thesuction-box from becoming locked to the shell or cylinder under influence of the vacuum, with consequent wear, chatter and increased driving power; whereby I am enabled to operate the suction-roll safely while maintaining such heavy and constant vacuumas necessary to pass the desired large and uniform quantities of air through the web or sheetof paper and to cause the external air pressure upon the web to lock the making-wire to the cylinder, so that the means which rotate the cylinder may also be utilized to drive the making-wire.

I prefer at present the construction of suction-roll shown and described in my U. S. Patent No. 895,283, dated August 4, 1908, though I do not limit myself thereto. Another construction of suction-roll adapted for the purpose is set forth in my pending application for patent filed April 8, 1909, Serial No. 488,739.

A indicates the revolving foraminous shell or cylinder of the suction-roll, having therein one or more suction chambers or suction-boxes B in contact with the inner surface of the shell or cylinder and preferably extending from the point where the making-wire meets the suction-roll to the point where the web is stripped therefrom and carried over to the press-felt 5.

The pipe or pipes C leading from the suction-box B is connected to a high-power positive-acting rotary air-pump D, which is preferably constructed with two oppositely-revolvmg cycloidal. impellers or pistons (1 working in a case resembling an oblate-spheroid in cross-section. as shown in Fig. 3, and adapted to produce a continuous high tension uniform draft or vacuum in sequently there can be no internal friction.

The cycloidal outline of the impellers results in continuous long contact and uniform exhaust. This pump is driven by suitable means, not shown, so as to draw through the wet web or sheet passing over the suction-box B such large constant volumes of airfas will practically remove all of the free moisture from the wet web at this point and consolidate the web on the making-wire; and'at the same time, because of the uniform external pressure due to the suction, the web will cause the making-wire to adhere or lock to the surface of the rotating cylinder A, which thereby is enabled to drive the making-wire accurately and efi'ectively, doingaway with supplementary means for driving this making-wire such as are commonly required in the Fourdrinier machines. As the usual friction over flat suction-boxes is removed the wire will moreover drive easier than at present.

By reason of the large and uniform constant volume of air obtained by the use of this positive rotary air pump no portion of the wet web of paper can pass over the suction-rollwithout being. thoroughly and uniformly treated, and by this treatment the sheet of paper is substantially freed from water without squeezing and is passed to the first felt and thence to the presses much drier than itis possible to carry same using the common equipmentof fiat suction-boxes and top couch-roll, and this increases the capacity of the machine as there is less moisture in the sheet to be removed by the presses and by the driers, thus greatly facilitating the operation of the driers. It

also results in less breaks in the web of paper at the presses. Consequently the speed of the machine maybe increased. Under some conditions the application of my invention to'Fourdrinier machines has resulted inan increasedspeed of 33% per cent. and upward. This refers topapers which under old'practice could be. handled off the wire and through presses withouttrouble but where speed was limited by capacity ofdriers. On some kinds of slow stock where'drying capacity was equal to greater speed than that at which the sheet could be' pa'ssed under the couch-roll and through the presses. the speed has been increased more than 100 per-cent, while prodnction'has been increased even more. as all breaks atthe couch-roll are eliminated and many-at the press. It should also be n 0ted that by eliminating the usual operatlon'of squeezing the wet web down upon the making-wire, :and by substantially removing the free moisture from the sheet at the suction-roll, the sheet will be passed to the felt with an entire absence of wire marks; also the usual felt marks will scarcely be visible since the sheet is drier when it goes to the felt and presses.

With some very light weight and perhaps certain other papers the sheet may not be delivered much drier. from the suction 1'.ol l than from the couches of the ordinary F ourdrinier machine; et is found to be much firmer and in a better condition to withstand the subsequent treatment through the presses, driers, etc, due to the fact that the fibers are so gently dried that no distortion or crush takes place, and the sheet goes to the felt without injury or shock and uniformly dried the entire width of the sheet. which permits greater pressure to be carried at the presses without injury.

As to the effect on the guiding of the wire. it may be mentioned that the wire guides more easily than with top couch-roll and flat suction-boxes. Once in place it is firmly held by the vacuum to the suctionroll, the tractive power of which drives the wire. I

Another advantage is that any pitch and foreign matters contained in the pulp are drawn through the wire into the suctionbox, and passes away to the pump. there bemg no sliding contact between the wire and the cylinder of the suction-roll; while in the ordinary Fourdrinier machine pieces of pitch or other foreign matters passing through the wire come into contact with the surface of the flat stationary suction-boxes and are smeared into the wire. ultimately choking it" and necessitating frequent cleaning of the making-wire, and the use of largev quantities of acid, steam, etc.'. to remove this pitch. lVith my revolving suction-roll and high air pressure, such foreign matters are drawn into the clean and open.

A further advantageof the present invention'is that a smoothing or dandy roll, or any kind of'a roll which may carry marking devices, or emblems such as type metal. rubber or other material, could be located at the point- .where the drying is being done.

1'. e'., on the arc of the circle "that is being" acted upon by vacuum. as illustrated in Fig. 6 where 9 indicates such dandy roll. and the same may be set forward or hack as is depump'and the wire kept sired, the sheet of paper beingwetter where yacuumfirstbegins than .it is at a'point farther advanced. Very desirable results -may be secured in marking a sheet ofpaper at this point, asthere is no danger of pick- .ing the sheet of paper from the wire. due

to the large volume of air passing through the sheet with the vacuum in the box under-'- neath locking same firmly to the wire, and preventing picking or lifting from the wire and following the roll.

It is also desirable on certain grades of paper to apply coler'to the sheet at the point where itis subjected to the action of the .-.5 withoutchanging stock or washing up screens, pipes, etc. The ordinary method of coloring such papers being to color the stock in the beater.

Another desirable feature is that size or hardening compounds may be applied to v the sheetat the same point; the compound being drawn thoroughly into the sheet and mingling with the same by the air current. This results in a saving of sizing material and applies it in the most practical manner.

This feature will be found very desirable in making water-proof papers. Certain glues and other elements can thus be drawn into the web of paper, permeating the same, and after passing through the press rolls and the sheet being smoothed the sheet may be passed through formaldehyde or other agents, rendering the sheet of finished paper waterproof and greaseproof.

With present methods of making waterproof papers it is necessary for the presses to take out the surplus of glue or water-- proofing materials, but with my invention there will be no surplus to be removed by the presses as the proper amount is' fed to the sheet at all times and drawn in by the suction-roll. v

As previously mentioned, a further advantage of carrying such large and uniform volumes or air through the wet paper web is that it dries sufiioiently on the suctionroll to enable the sheet to be picked oifthe wire safely and more easily than would be possible in the ordinary method of making paper with a top couch roll. In this connection a slotted or perforated pipe 7 may be introduced into the suction-roll and may be either adjilstable or stationaryyand air or steam can bejetted from said pipe for the purpose of blowing the web of paper oil the. wire onto the felt after the web passes the suction-box. The air is throughthispipe 7 and passes through the apertures in the shell and the .wire and strikes the paper. This does away with picking the sheet oil the wire by, hand;

A hoed 8 (Fig. 1) may be arranged over the suction-roll opposite the vacuum chainber of the suction-box and supplied with hot 5 air by a suitable pipe, orthe air can be delivered heated in the hood by steam pipes or other suitable means. This hood will largely block off the moist cold atmosphere from the room and the larger volume of air drawn through the sheet will be the hot dry air in the hood. By this means the drying operation may be carried to a still higher degree before the sheet leaves the making-wire, in cases where this treatment may be practical or desirable.

While I have described my invent-ion as applied to Fourdrinier machines, it could obviously be applied to other machines making paper from wet stock or pulp. Furthermore the suction-roll with pump for maintaining such constant heavy vacuum, or like suction-rolls, might be located'elsewhere in the machine and operate upon the web with beneficial results.

With my invention both light and heavy papers can be made, and actual tests have shown in all instances greatly increased capacity, and a better and more uniform product.

lit may be added that the suction-roll illustrated herein embodies the general construction, and the essential principles, of the suction-roll illustrated in my aforesaid Patent No. 895,283, being provided, however, with adjustable packin heads or deckles b (not shown in my aioresaid patent) forthe purpose of adjusting the length of the vacuum-chamber in the suction-box in accordance with different widths of paper being manufactured. In view of this provision the specific construction of the roll difiers somewhat from that shown in the said patent, and may be explained as follows: The body of the suction-box B is constructed with upper longitudinal flanges grooved to receive the side packing strips 6 and the vacuum-chamber immediately adjacent to the inner surface of the cylinder is bounded by said side packing strips and by said adjustable end packing heads I), said vacuum-chamber being above the top of the main body of the box and communicating with the interior of the latter through a central opening N. The packing heads I), carried by adjusting rods a, work in metal liners b -fitted .in the end portions of the upper vacuum-chamber, the inner sides of the top flanges of the suction-box being cut away to permit said liners to set directly against the side packing-strips b, as appears in Fig. 5. The adjusting rods (1 extend beyond the ends of the suctioneroll, passing between two contact-limiting or pressure-limiting adjusting screws a bear ing upon the box at each end. Only one of said adjusting screws appears in Fig. 2.

a" indicates a bearing bracket for'the"'roll or cylinder; a is a clamp ring attached thereto; a is the cylinder-head secured in said clamp ring and through which are threaded the adjusting screws a which limit the bearing pressure of the suction-box against the inner surface of the cylinder; (i is the pinion a".

Having thus described my invent-ion what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'is:

1. In a paper-making machine, the combination of a revolving suction-roll adapted to maintain vacuum on a portion of cylindrical surface, over which surface the paper web passes, and a positive rotary vacuum pump connected with the suction chamber of said roll and adapted to maintain therein a constant high tension vacuum so as to force a large volume of air uniformly through the sheet.

2. In a paper-making machine, the combination with a making wire on which pulp is formed into a web or sheet, the wire be ing free from pressure appllances for squeezing out water from the sheet, of a revolving suction roll providing a-vacuum surface incontact with the wire, and a positive rotary vacuum pump connected with and. adapted to maintain in said suction roll a heavy uniform vacuum ,while handling large volumes of air and water, whereby molsture is effectively and evenly extracted by drawing a large volume of air uniformly through the sheet.

3. In a paper-making machine, the combination with a making-wire on which liquid pulp is formed into a web or sheet of paper,

the. wire beingfree from pressure-appliances for squeezing out water from the sheet, ofa

' revolving suction-rollat the delivery end of and driving the wire, and a positive rotary air-pump connected with the suction-chamber thereof: and adapted to maintain such heavy uniform vacuum as to create a high constant pressure upon and uniform draft of air through the sheet, whereby the wire is locked to the roll and the sheet is substantially freed from water. v

4. In a paper-making machine, the combination with a revolving suction-roll of a positive rotary air-pump connected with the suction-chamber thereof, said pump having oppositely-revolving cycloidal' impellers and adapted to maintain a unifornr heavy gear on the cylinder; operated by vacuumcfor drawing large volumes of air uniformly through a sheet of paper passing over the suction-roll.

5. In combination with the making-wire of a Fourdrinier machine, a revolving suction-roll at the delivery end of and driving the wire, a non-rotating suction-box there in, there being provision for limiting the pressure of contact between the suction-box and inner surface of the roll, and a rota-ryair-pump connected with said suction-box and having oppositely-revolving 'cycloidal impellers adapted to maintain in the suctionbox such uniform heavy vacuum as to create a constant high pressure upon and uniform draft of air through the sheet or web of paper forming on the making-wire and lockthe latter to the suction-roll.

6. In a paper-making machine of the Fourdrinier type, the combination with the making-wire, of asuct-ion-ro'll at the delivery end of and driving the wire, the latter being free from pressure-appliances for squeezing out water from the sheet, deckle straps extending toward the suction-roll. a dandy roll in'advance of the suction-roll, a single suction-box under the rear deckle-pulleys, and a positive rotary air-pump connected with the suction-roll and adapted to maintain such heavy uniform vacuum as to create "a constant high pressure upon and draw large volumes of air uniformly through the sheet, whereby the wire is locked tovthe roll and the sheet is substantially freed from water as it is passed from the wire.

7. In a paper-making machine, the combination of a suction-roll with a positive rotary air-pump connected with the suctionchamber thereof and adapted to draw large volumes of air uniformly through the sheet passing said roll, and means for supplying matter for permeating the sheet (as'hot air, coloring or water-proofing matters, etc.) ert-ernall y to the sheet atthe point where 1t is subjected -to the vacuum'in the suction-roll.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, I

in presence oftwo witnesses.

WILLIAM MILLSPAUGH.

Witnesses:

' J. A. BAILEY,

C. L. MIELKE. 

